Cork-extractor.



PATBNTBD FEB. 11, 1908.

G. M. GODFREY. CORK EXTRAOTOR.

APPLIGATION FILED nuns. 1907.

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GEORGE M. GODFREY, OF OARROLLTON, MISSISSIPPI.

CORK-EXTRACTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 1 1, 1908.

Application filed July 25. 1907. Serial'No. 385.407.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE M. GODFREY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Carrollton,in'the county of Carroll and State of Mississippi, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cork-Extractors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in cork extractors, and it consists in the constructions, combinations and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved cork extractor which will be firmly secured in position by a loop engaging the periphery of the cork and a bight extending across the cork from diametrically opposite portions of said loop and provided with a pair of extracting attachments arranged to distribute between said bight and loop the force exerted on each attachment.

A further object of my invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive cork extractor, which can be securely attached to the bottle, or other receptacle, and sealed to prevent surreptitious removal of the cork.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which simi ar reference symbols indicate corresponding parts in the several views :Figure' 1 is a side elevation partly in section, illustrating a bottle, with one embodiment of my invention applied to the cork therein; Fig. 2 is a perspective view, showing the extractor, with the cork indicated in broken lines; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, illustrating a slight modification in which the bight is extended straight across the cork; Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the end of a bottle, showing one means for securely attaching and sealing the extractor thereto; and Fig. 5 is a detail elevation illustrating a modified means for attaching and sealing the extractor to a bottle.

Referring especially to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, 1 indicates any usual form of bottle, or other receptacle, closed by a stopper or a cork 2.

My extractor preferably comprises a length ofwire bent to form a loop 3 for engaging the periphery of a cork and a bight 4 extending across the cork from diametrically opposite portions of said loop. The wire is twisted together at 5 and 6 to provide an eye 7 which furnishes convenient means for engaging the extractor to remove the cork. A pair of attachments 8 and 9 diverge downwardly from said twisted portion 6. The attachment 8 extends beneath the bight at 10 and forms a continuation of the loop 3; the attachment 9 extends outside of the loop 3 at 11 and forms a continuation of the bight 4. In this construction, an upward pull on the eye 7 for removing a cork will exert a force on the attachment 8 tending to contract the loop 3 on the cork and to draw the bight 4 deeper into said cork, and a force on the attachment 9 tending to press the loop 3 into the cork and to draw'the bight 4 deeper into said cork. The diverging attachments 8 and 9 are thus arranged to distribute between the bight 4 and loop 3 the force exerted on each during extraction of the cork. This constitutes a very efiicient and satisfactory practical construction, and enables the loop and bight to be embedded within the sub- .stance of the cork for shieldin them against the action of liquids containe in the bottle.

In former constructions, in which the substance of a cork is weakened by embedding, or sinking, a wire extractor therein, great difliculty has been experienced by the extractor tearing through the cork, and various means, such as independent metal shields or pins, have beenemployed for overcoming this difficulty. In my improved construction, all parts of the extractor which engage the cork are embedded therein, and the extracting strain is distributed betweenthe bight 4 and loop 3 thereby preventing injury to the weakened cork substance by localization of the strain on either the bight or loop embedded therein.

Fig. 4 illustrates a constructionin which the eye 7 is formed of sufficient length to extend along the neck of the bottle and be firmly secured in place by hooking the twisted end portion 5 about both strands of said eye. This constitutes a very simple and e'flicient means for positively locking the cork in position, and is especially adapted for preventing accidental displacement of the cork during shipping, or when employed with effervescent liquids.

Fig. 5 illustrates a modified construction in which the twisted portion 6 of the extractor is formed of sufficient length to extend over the neck of the bottle, and the end portions of the wire are twisted at 5 to draw the eye'8 tightly about the bottle neck. A suitable seal 12 can be secured to the twisted end portion 5 of the extractor for preventing tampering with the contents of the bottle before reaching the purchaser.

The construction shown in Fig. 5 can be modified to form the eye 7 of sufficient size to slip freely over the neck of the bottle. In this modification, the strands of the eye 7 are preferably drawn together to tightly clamp said eye about the bottle neck, and a seal secured to said strands; thereby preventing the eye from being detached without destruction of the seal.

I I have illustrated and described preferred and satisfactory constructions, but, obviously, changes could be made within the spirit and scope of my invention.

a pair of attachments diverging from the top of the cork and extending, respectively, beneath one end of said bight to said loop, and outside of said loop to the-other end of said bight, substantially as described.

2. In combination with a cork, an extractor comprising a length of wire forming a loop engaging the periphery of the cork, a straight length of the wire forming a bight extending across the plane of said loop from diametrically opposite portions of the latter,

an attachment extending beneath one end of said bight to said 100 an attachment extending outside of said 00p to the other end of said bight, and an eye formed by twisting said attachments together beyond the end of the cord, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I amx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE M. GODFREY. Witnesses N. E. PENTECOST, JOHN C. WHITE. 

